Disaster Services

Disaster Service Centers/Hotlines

Programs that establish one-stop centers that may be staffed by representatives from local, state and federal agencies, insurance companies and other disaster-related providers; or which operate hotlines that enable people to apply for financial and/or other assistance and/or to obtain the information they need to stabilize their current situation and begin to recover.

Disaster Related Clothing/Emergency Supplies

Programs that provide clothing, blankets and other essentials immediately following a major disaster or large-scale emergency for people who have experienced substantial losses as a result of the incident.

Disaster Relief Services

Programs that facilitate the exchange of information and/or provide short-term assistance, usually in the form of food, clothing, blankets, temporary shelter, furnishings, small appliances or temporary financial aid, for people who have suffered injuries or incurred losses due to a major disaster or large-scale emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a community. The objective of disaster relief is to help individuals sustain their lives during the immediate aftermath of the event. NOTE: "Disaster Relief" is a category of services utilized by community human services agencies involved in disaster work. Government organizations do not recognize disaster relief as a formal part of the disaster cycle. Most of the services classified as disaster relief are considered by government to be part of disaster recovery and a few (e.g., disaster welfare inquiries) are categorized as disaster response.

Disaster Response Services

Organizations that are responsible for taking actions before, during and after the onset of a major disaster or large-scale emergency that will end the emergency, preserve lives, limit damage, ensure the availability of critical services and reduce the probability of secondary effects.

Post Disaster Cleanup

Programs that provide financial assistance, volunteer labor, equipment and supplies or other forms of support to help clear away rubble and clean up the community following a major disaster or large-scale emergency that has wreaked havoc on the community.

Post Disaster Food Services

Programs that meet the basic nutritional needs of relief workers and/or individuals and families whose homes have been made uninhabitable by a disaster or large scale emergency and who have no other means of purchasing food and/or preparing a meal. Food assistance may also available to individuals who have experienced a localized incident such as a house fire.

Post Disaster Mental Health Services

Programs that provide a variety of services following a major disaster or large-scale emergency which help individuals cope with their own psychological reactions to the incident and/or prepare them to provide emotional support for family members, friends and neighbors who are feeling frightened, confused and no longer in control of their lives because of the event.

Disaster Donations Coordination

Organizations that assume responsibility in the aftermath of a major disaster or large-scale emergency for soliciting and/or collecting donations from the general public and distributing those items to people who have suffered a loss and are currently in need. Donations may include critical services, money, groceries, drinking water, blankets, personal comfort kits, disposable diapers, clothing, household goods, medical supplies, cleaning supplies, hand tools, plastic sheeting, tar paper, building materials and other relief supplies.

Disaster Related Shelter Services

Programs that arrange for shelter and/or a warm place for people to stay when dangerously cold weather is expected; and/or provide emergency shelter for people who have no place to stay as a result of a large-scale fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or a localized incident such as a house fire, toxic spill emergency or other environmental hazard that disrupts the normal functioning of a community.

Post Disaster Housing Assistance

Programs that provide for the short and long-term housing needs of individuals and families who have lost their place of residence in a major disaster or large-scale emergency by providing them with a mechanism for reporting damage, by arranging for temporary housing while their homes are being repaired or rebuilt, by helping them identify alternative short and/or long-term housing replacement arrangements, by supporting their ability to make structural repairs that will enable them to return to their homes, or by supporting their ability to rebuild. Some forms of post disaster housing assistance are generally also available to individuals who have experienced a localized incident such as a house fire that has made them temporarily homeless.

Disaster Related Shelter Services

Programs that arrange for shelter and/or a warm place for people to stay when dangerously cold weather is expected; and/or provide emergency shelter for people who have no place to stay as a result of a large-scale fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or a localized incident such as a house fire, toxic spill emergency or other environmental hazard that disrupts the normal functioning of a community.

Post Disaster Housing Assistance

Programs that provide for the short and long-term housing needs of individuals and families who have lost their place of residence in a major disaster or large-scale emergency by providing them with a mechanism for reporting damage, by arranging for temporary housing while their homes are being repaired or rebuilt, by helping them identify alternative short and/or long-term housing replacement arrangements, by supporting their ability to make structural repairs that will enable them to return to their homes, or by supporting their ability to rebuild. Some forms of post disaster housing assistance are generally also available to individuals who have experienced a localized incident such as a house fire that has made them temporarily homeless.

Disaster Management Organizations

Public and private organizations that are responsible for the organized analysis, planning, decision making, assignment and coordination of available resources involved in the mitigation of, preparedness for, response to, and/or relief/recovery from a major disaster or large-scale emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a community. These organizations have a formal role in developing overall emergency policy within their jurisdictions; establish coordination with other agencies active in disaster situations; develop action plans for emergency response; coordinate facilities, services, personnel, equipment and materials that are required before, during and immediately following an incident; and/or are involved in disaster relief and recovery activities.

Disaster Preparedness

Activities, programs and systems developed prior to an emergency that support community readiness and resiliency assessment; development and testing of disaster plans; training of staff in plan implementation; establishment of collaborative arrangements with other services; provision of suitable warning systems; identification, procurement and/or collection of the facilities, equipment, supplies and trained personnel that will be necessary for responding to an emergency; and development and dissemination of information and/or training about how individuals and organizations can prepare for a major disaster or large-scale emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a community.

Post Disaster Mental Health Services

Programs that provide a variety of services following a major disaster or large-scale emergency which help individuals cope with their own psychological reactions to the incident and/or prepare them to provide emotional support for family members, friends and neighbors who are feeling frightened, confused and no longer in control of their lives because of the event.

Disaster Related Clothing/Emergency Supplies

Programs that provide clothing, blankets and other essentials immediately following a major disaster or large-scale emergency for people who have experienced substantial losses as a result of the incident.

Disaster Response Services

Organizations that are responsible for taking actions before, during and after the onset of a major disaster or large-scale emergency that will end the emergency, preserve lives, limit damage, ensure the availability of critical services and reduce the probability of secondary effects.

Post Disaster Food Services

Programs that meet the basic nutritional needs of relief workers and/or individuals and families whose homes have been made uninhabitable by a disaster or large scale emergency and who have no other means of purchasing food and/or preparing a meal. Food assistance may also available to individuals who have experienced a localized incident such as a house fire.

Safety Advisories

Programs that issue bulletins to update the public about road or weather conditions, warn them of imminent threats to public health or which otherwise inform them of environmental conditions that are potential safety hazards for people in the immediate area.